Thank you Mappin Street - June

Mappin Street helps to fill my week
Wednesdays it's the choir, Fridays I get to speak
Wednesdays I enjoy singing many of the old songs
I used to sing in choirs and family singalongs
Fridays I write stories and rhymes it never ends
I started with poems for cards for family and friends
The subjects so varied, we all try our best
Sometimes we are serious but mostly they're in jest
The staff and helpers are priceless and help to make our day
So there's a pat on the back and hip hip hooray
So hope to see you all again quite soon
Love and best wishes from a grateful member June

Life after sight loss - June

I’m one of the lucky ones. I am partially sighted.

When I first became type 2 diabetic when I was 59 years old, I was told that eventually I would go blind but fingers crossed, at 74 I can still read large clear print.

I had to give up my big choir and my knitting but manage to do my writing and am in the choir at the SRSB.

I am a bit scared at crossing busy roads but have found since I reluctantly started using my white stick a lot of people try to help. Especially giving you the priority seats on the tram.

I watch TV but can’t manage anything with subtitles. I’ve had laser treatment and horrid injections in my eyes but luckily at the moment only have to put one drop in each eye every night. And I only go to the hospital every six months.

Adventures of a blind person - June

I of course don’t know what it’s like to be blind as I am only partially sighted. But even then you have to learn to adjust. It can still be frustrating.

Since I was 14 I had to wear glasses for being short-sighted. I had to wear them all the time. I loved to read, and I needed them for that. I struggled a bit when I went swimming and of course for my music and words at my choir.

This lasted until the day before I was 59 when I went to have my eyes tested for some new glasses. They found something not right which led to months of tests at the hospital until I was finally diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

I’ve had laser treatment and injections and am on a load of tablets every day. I also have to put eye drops in at night. Unless I have any problems I only have to go for a check-up every six months. I just have glasses and a magnifying glass now for reading with. I struggle with bright sunlight and the dark and don’t go out much on my own, never at night.